SHAFAQNA – Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras says his country has won a significant battle while acknowledging that “real difficulties” lie ahead, after Athens reached a deal with its creditors to extend the debt-stricken nation’s bailout loan.

“We won a battle, not the war,” Tspiras said on Saturday in an address to the nation less than 12 hours after the agreement was sealed in Brussels late on Friday.

The leftist leader hailed the agreement as a “decisive step” that “achieved much” toward ending austerity, but said Greece has “a long and difficult road ahead.”

“In effect it cancels austerity.… In a few days we have achieved a lot but we have a long road. We have taken a decisive step to change course within the eurozone. Now negotiations enter a new, effective stage,” the premier said.